Cloth stretching apparatus



F. KORNICHUK 2,053,669

CLOTH STRETCHING APPARATUS I Filed Aug. 13,1955 2 Shegts-Sheet, 1

M T 1:15: a 3 Z. A 2 TI 2 @Z Sept. 8, 1936.

p 1936- A F. KORNICHUK 2,053,669

CLOTH STRETCHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 13, 1935 2, Sheets-Sheet 2 .20 Miii? h A Inventor; [99% 5377262725421? Patented Sept. 8, 1936 'UNITEDSTATES PATENT'OFFICE CLOTH STRETCHING APPARATUS Fred Kornichuk, Pelham,N. Ii.

Application August 13, 1935, Serial No. 36,040

19 Claims.

This invention pertains to cloth stretching apparatus and is designedmore particularly for stretching textile fabrics during or at thecompletion of a wet treating process, for example, soaping, dyeing,bleaching or the like. In undergoing such operations as those justsuggested the fabric usually assumes a more or less rope-like form,being irregularly folded and compacted so that it has but a smallfraction of its usual width. However, it is customary to pass the fabricthrough squeeze rolls as it emerges from the vat, in order to expressexcess liquid, and in order to obtain effective results, it is desirablethat the fabric reassume substantially its full width before enteringthe bite of the squeeze rolls. Quite commonly the transverse stretchingof the material as it emerges from the vat, has been carried out as ahand operation, the operator gripping the wet fabric between the thumbsand fingers of his two hands near its opposite edges, and pulling itwidthwise substantially to its full width as it approaches the rolls,then releasing it and again gripping it at a point nearer the vat andagain stretching it and repeating the operation throughout the entirelength of the piece of material. This manual stretching operation isslow and laborious, it is somewhat dangerous, since the hands must becarried so near to the squeeze rolls, and it does not produce so uniforma result as is desirable. The principal object of the present inventionis to provide mechanical and preferably power driven means forperforming the operation ordinarily carried out by hand, as aboveoutlined. With this and other objects in view and as more fullydisclosed in the following detailed description, I have devised theapparatus herein described and claimed and which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of theimproved apparatus shown as applied to the top edge of one side of a vator the like;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section, to large scale, illustratingthe actuating mechanism of the left-hand gripper device of Fig. 1, suchgripper being disposed substantially at the position which it occupiesat the beginning of its stretching stroke;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3,showing the gripper jaws closed upon the fabric;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view generally similar to Fig. 3 but showing thegripper device substanof Fig. 6, the gripper jaws being open to releasethe fabric;

Fig. 8 Ba section substantially'on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section (to somewhat larger scale) showing theparts at the upper left hand corner of Fig. 8 in the position which theyoccupy at the instant before the gripper jaws close; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the parts at the lowerleft hand corner of Fig. Bat the instant at which the gripper jaws open.

Referring to the drawings the numeral l designates the side wall of avat, tank or other receptacle 2 in which fabric F is subjected to someWet process, for example dyeing, and from which the fabric is drawn outand delivered to the squeeze rolls R designed to express excessfluid.The wall I of the tank is provided, adjacent to its opposite ends, withbrackets 3 and i, respectively, which support the tubular guide orcasing 5 over which the fabric passes on'its way from the vat to thesqueeze rolls. In accordance with the present invention, this tubularguide 5 is provided adjacent to its opposite ends with bushings 6 whichare kept from turning within the casing by means, for example, ofsplines l which fit within elongate slots 3 in the wall of the casing.

The bushings may be prevented from moving longitudinally by set screwsor other appropriate means. Each bushing constitutes a bearing for arotary sleeve 8, preferably having a polygonal bore 9 which receives adrive shaft It. This drive shaft extends longitudinally of the casingand as shown in Fig. 1 projects from the right hand end of the casingwhere it is furnished with a sprocket wheel ll adapted to receive adrive chain I2 which may be driven continuously from any suitable powersource, for example from the same shaft which drives the squeeze rollsR.

Adjacent to each end of the casing 5, and normally adjacent to the innerends of the respective bushings 6, are arranged cylindrical cams l3having cam slots It for the reception of cam followers, hereinafterreferred to more particularly. Each of the cams it is preferablyprovided with a tubular hub E5 of smaller diameter than the main body ofthe cam, such hub turning within a bearing sleeve l6 provided with aspline H which fits within the slot 8 in the casing thereby to preventthe bearing sleeve from turning. The hub I5 is provided with a polygonalbore (similar to that of the sleeve 8) which receives the shaft l9 sothat as the shaft turns the cams l3 are likewise turned, the cams atopposite ends of the casing thus being driven at the same speed.

Adjacent to each end of the casing 5 there is fixed thereto a bracket l8(Fig. 1) comprising substantially parallel spaced plates l9 and 20 whichat their outer ends are held in properly spaced relation by means of aspacer sleeve 20 and a bolt 20*. Each bracket I8 is provided with curvedarms 2| and 22 constituting the opposite halves respectively of a splitsleeve which embraces the casing 5, the arms 2| and 22 being furnishedwith substantially parallel ears 23 and 24 having aligned openings whichreceive a clamping screw 25 whereby the bracket structure may be securedto the casing 5 but permitting the bracket to be adjusted longitudinallyof the casing by relaxing the screw 25 and then tightening it again whenthe bracket has been placed in its new position of adjustment. The driveshaft 10 slides freely within the hubs l5 of the cams so that suchadjustment of the bracket and the parts carried thereby is freelypermissible.

The inner ends of the plates [9 and 20 are united either integrally orotherwise to the block 26 (Fig. 4) which has an arcuate surface adaptedto fit snugly against the outer surface of the casing 5 and which isprovided with a dovetailed guideway within which is arranged the slidemember 21. This slide member carries a cam follower 28 which may, ifdesired, comprise a freely turning roller fitting within the cam groove[4 of the cam l3.

A pivot pin or shaft 29 extends through aligned openings in the platesl9 and 20 of each bracket, such pin forming a pivotal support for arocker member 30 having an arm 3| to which is pivotally connected oneend of a link 32. The opposite end of this link is pivotally secured bya pin 33 to an arm 34 projecting from the corresponding slide 21. Eachrocker 30 is preferably bifurcated at its outer end to provide thespaced parallel arms 35 and 36. Pins 31 and 38 extend between the arms35 and 36 and form pivotal supports, respectively, for the gripper arms39 and 40. The arm 39 is provided with a pivot pin 4| to which ispivotally secured one arm 42 of a gripper jaw 42. Likewise to the pin 43is pivotally secured the arm 44 of a. gripper jaw 44*. The arms 42 and44 are pivotally united at 45. Preferably the gripper jaw 42 hasassociated with it a yieldable pad 46 pivoted at 4'! to the jaw 42 andhaving a spring 48 interposed between it and the jaw 42. The pad 46 hasa fabric engaging surface 49, while the jaw 44 has a pad 59 providedwith a fabric engaging surface 5|. When the jaws are closed they areoperative to clamp the marginal portion of the fabric F between thesurfaces 49 and 5l,the yieldable pad 46 insuring a firm grip regardlessof the thickness of the material and without the necessity of extremeaccuracy of construction or adjustment.

The gripper arm 39 is provided with a thinedged cam follower 52 whichcooperates with a fixed elongate plate cam 53 carried by the bracketplate l9. Likewise the gripper arm 49 is provided with a similar camfollower 52 opposite edges with oppositely bevelled cam surfaces, suchsurfaces of cam 53 being indicated at 53 and 53 in Figs. 9 and 10,respectively.

Jaw closing springs 55 and 56 are rigidly sup ported upon a member 51fixed to the spacer sleeve 28. The springs 55 and 56 are here shown asleaf springs having their free ends sodisposed as normally to pressagainst the inner surfaces of the gripper arms 39 and 40 thereby tendingto swing the free ends of said arms away from each other.

Springs 58 and 59 are secured, respectively, to the outer surfaces ofthe bracket plates 19 and 20. The springs 58 and 59 are also leafsprings, and are furnished at their free extremities with cam elementsand 6|, respectively, which are adapted to project inwardly throughopenings in the plates l9 and 20. The members 69 and SI are disposedjust below the lower edges (as viewed in Fig. 8) of the cam plates 53and 54. Preferably the mechanism above described is housed r in asuitable casing 62 having a slot in its curved edge 63 through which thegripper jaws project.

Assuming that the end of the fabric F has been drawn out of the tank andafter passing over the outer surface of the casing 5 has been stretchedout by hand and inserted between the squeeze rolls, the above describedmechanism operates substantially as follows to stretch the fabric to itsfull width as it is drawn forward toward the r squeeze rolls.

Considering the gripper device at the left hand end of the casing 5, andassuming that the cam l3 occupies the position shown in Fig. 3, in whichthe slide 21 has been moved to its extreme left hand position, the link32, actuated by the slide 21, will have swung the rocker 30 in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) to such an extent that the gripperjaws will occupy substantially the position indicated in broken lines inFig. 3. At this instant the gripper arm 39 will have been swung to theposition indicated in Fig. 9 wherein the cam follower 52 is shown asjust above the extreme upper edge of the plate cam 53. During themovement of the gripper arm 39 in this direction, the correspondingspring 55 will have been tensioned, and when the member 52 reaches theupper extremity of the cam plate 53, the spring 55 will quickly forcethe gripper arm to the left as viewed in Fig. 9, while at the same timethe opposite gripper arm 49 will be moved by its spring 56 to the right(Fig. 8). Such opposite movement of the gripper arms 39 and 49 quicklycloses the gripper jaws so that the jaws seize the margin of the fabricF between them at the time when the gripper devices at opposite ends ofthe casing 5 are at their point of nearest approach. It being assumedthat the cam I3 is continuously turning, the rocker 30 now begins itsoscillation in a clockwise direction, (Fig. 3) thus beginning to movethe gripper jaws from the broken line position toward the full lineposition in Fig. 3. As indicated in Fig. 9 the upper edge of the camplate 53 is outwardly bevelled at 53 and as the arm 39 begins to movedownwardly the follower 52 first slides down this bevelled surface 53thereby positively pulling the corresponding arm 39 outwardly, while atthe opposite side the arm 40 is likewise positively moved outwardly bythe corresponding cam plate, thus positively holding the gripper jawsclosed during the completion of this stroke of the rocker 39. Duringthis period, the cam plate 53 occupies the space 53 between the arm 39and its corresponding follower 52 and the jaws are held closed until therocker completes its oscillation in a clockwise direction. During thistime the gripper jaws continue to grip the fabric and as the jaws arenow swinging away from each other in an arcuate path, the fabric istransversely tensioned so that it enters the squeeze rollers inlaterally stretched and unwri-nkled condition.

As the rocker 36 nears the end of its clockwise oscillation and the camfollower 52 reaches the lower extremity of the cam plate 53 (Fig. 10)the spring-supported cam member 60 is first pressed outwardly byengagement with the cam follower 52 and then, as the latter reaches thelower extremity of the plate 53, the spring 58 suddenly pushes the camfollower 52 to the right as viewed in Fig. 10, and at the same time thecam follower 52 is. moved to the left (Fig. 8) by the spring 59, therebysuddenly opening the gripper jaws and releasing the fabric. As the camfollower 52 moves inwardly or to the right (Fig. 19) it passes theextreme lower edge of the plate 53. This lower edge portion is bevelledat 53 oppositely to the bevel 53 in its upper edge, and as the rockernow begins its reverse oscillation, the left hand face of the followerplate 52 engages the right hand face of the plate 53 (Fig. 10) and inthis position the parts continue as the rocker 3B completes itscounterclockwise oscillation. The jaws are thus positively held open asthey return to their initial position, whereupon the sequence ofoperations above described is repeated, it being understood that thegripper devices at opposite ends of the casing 5 are both actuated inthe manner just described, except that they oscillate simultaneously inopposite directions.

Since, as above noted, the brackets which carry the stretching mechanismmay be adjusted longitudinally of the casing 5, the apparatus mayreadily be adapted for stretching fabrics of different widths.Preferably, in order to prevent fluid from entering the slot 8 when thebrackets are separated to their widest extent, a shield member 63 may besecured to each bracket member, such shield member covering the slot 8where such slot would otherwise be exposed.

While the apparatus herein described is of particular utility for thepurposes mentioned, it is to be understood that it may be used forstretching sheet material, Whether textile or otherwise, and for anypurpose for which such stretching is desirable. It is further to beunderstood that while a specific embodiment of apparatus has herein beendescribed by way of example as illustrative of the invention, theinvention is not to be limited to the particular form of apparatusherein shown but that any desired variations in shape, size andproportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elementsare to be regarded as within the purview of the invention as expressedin the appended claims.

I claim:

3.. In combination with a fabric treating vat and squeeze rolls adjacentto the vat, fabric stretching apparatus arranged to stretch fabric onits way from the vat to the squeeze rolls, said apparatus comprising apair of gripper devices disposed adjacent to opposite marginsrespectively of fabric to be stretched, each gripper device comprising apair of cooperable gripper jaws designed to grip the fabric betweenthem, arotary cam for oscillating each gripper device in an arcuate pathsubstantially in the plane of the fabric, spring means operative, as thegripper device begins its fabric stretching stroke, to close the gripperjaws thereby to grip the fabric between them, means operative positivelyto hold the jaws closed during the stretching stroke of the gripperdevice, and spring means operative as the gripper device nears the endof its fabric stretching stroke mechanically to open the jaws of thegrippers thereby to release the fabric.

2. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising a pair of gripper devicesdisposed adjacent to 0pposite margins respectively of thefabric to bestretched, each gripper device comprising a pair of cooperable gripperjaws designed to grip the fabric between them, power driven rotary camsoperative simultaneously to oscillate the two gripper devices inopposite directions in paths substantially in the plane of the fabric,spring means operative to close the jaws of said gripper devices toseize the fabric between them just at the beginning of the fabricstretching stroke of each gripper device, means operative. positively tohold the jaws closed during the stretching stroke, and means operativeto open the jaws of the respective gripper devices when each gripperdevice I nears the end of its fabric stretching stroke thereby torelease the fabric.

3. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate support havingbearings adjacent to its opposite ends, a cam device arranged to turn inthe bearings adjacent to each end of the sup- 4. Fabric stretchingapparatus comprising an elongate support having bearings adjacent to itsopposite ends, a cam device arranged to turn in the bearings adjacent toeach end of the support, a. bracket mounted upon the support adjacent toeach end of the latter, a gripper device supported by each bracket, eachgripper device being designed and arranged to oscillate in an arcuatepath and comprising a pair of coinplemental relatively movable fabricgripping jaws, and means actuable by each cam for swinging the correrspending gripper device in such arcuate path and to open and close thegripper jaws, the brackets and. cams being adjustable longitudinally ofthe elongate support to accommodate fabric of different widths.

5. The combination with a fabric treating vat and a set of squeezerolls, of fabric stretching apparatus interposed between the vat andsqueeze rolls and comprising an elongate support having bearingsadjacent to its opposite ends, a cam device arranged to turn in thebearings adjacent to each end of the support, a bracket mounted upon thesupport adjacent to each end of the latter, a gripper device supportedby each bracket, each gripper device being designed and arranged tooscillate in an arcuate path and comprising a pair of complementalrelatively movable fabric gripping jaws, means actuable by each cam forswinging the corresponding gripper device in such arcuate path and toopen and F close the gripper jaws, and a shaft extending longitudinallyof the elongate support and operative to turn both cams simultaneouslyat the same speed.

6. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate support designedand arranged for attachment to the edge of a fabric treating vat, saidsupport having bearings adjacent to its opposite ends, a cam devicearranged to turn in the bearings adjacent to each end of the support, abracket mounted upon the support adjacent to each end of the latter, agripper device supported by each bracket, each gripper device beingdesigned and arranged to oscillate in an arcuate path and comprising apair of complemental relatively movable fabric gripping jaws, meansactuable by the respective cams to oscillate the corresponding gripperdevices simultaneously in opposite directions, and means operative assaid devices near the respective ends of their paths of oscillationrespectively to close and open the gripper jaws.

7. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate support havingbearings adjacent to its opposite ends, a cam device arranged to turn inthe bearings adjacent to each end of the support, a bracket mounted uponthe support adjacent to each end of the latter, a gripper devicesupported by each bracket, each gripper device being designed andarranged to oscillate in an arcuate path and comprising a pair ofcomplemental relatively movable fabric gripping jaws, connectionsactuated by the respective cams for swinging the gripper devicessimultaneously in opposite directions respectively, means operative toclose the gripper jaws of each gripper device as the gripper devicereaches one end of its path of movement, and means operative positivelyto hold said gripper jaws closed as the gripper device moves in theopposite direction.

8. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate support havingbearings adjacent to its opposite ends, a cam device arranged to turn inthe bearings adjacent to each end of the support, a bracket mounted uponthe support adjacent to each end of the latter, a gripper devicesupported by each bracket, each gripper device being designed andarranged to oscillate. in an arcuate path and comprising a pair ofcomplemental relatively movable fabric gripping jaws, connectionsactuable by the respective cams for moving the gripper devicessimultaneously in opposite directions respectively, means operative toopen the gripper jaws of each gripper device as the latter reaches oneend of its path of movement, and means operative positively to hold saidjaws open as the gripper device moves in the opposite direction.

9. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate support havingbearings adjacent to its opposite ends, a cam device arranged to turn inthe bearings adjacent to each end of the support, a bracket mounted uponthe support adjacent to each end of the latter, a gripper devicesupported by each bracket, each gripper device being designed andarranged to oscillate in an arcuate path and comprising a pair ofcomplemental relatively' movable fabric gripping jaws, connectionsincluding a link and lever actuable by the respective cams for swingingthe gripper devices simultaneously in opposite directions respectively,spring means tending to close the gripper jaws of each gripper device asthe latter reaches one end of its path of movement, and a cam memberoperative to hold the gripper jaws closed as the gripper device moves inthe opposite direction.

10. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate support havingbearings adjacent to its opposite ends, a cam device arranged to turn inthe bearings adjacent to each end of the support,

a bracket mounted upon the support adjacent to each end of the latter, agripper device supported by each bracket, each gripper device beingdesigned and arranged to oscillate in an arcuate path and comprising apair of complemental relatively movable fabric gripping jaws,connections actuable by the respective cams for moving the gripperdevices simultaneously in opposite directions respectively, spring meanstending to open the gripper jaws of each gripper device as such devicereaches one end of its path of movement, and a cam member operative tohold the gripper jaws closed as the gripper device moves in the oppositedirection.

11. The combination with a fabric treating vat having a side wall, offabric stretching apparatus comprising spaced bearings adjacent toopposite ends of said wall, a rotary cam device arranged adjacent toeach set of bearings, a bracket adjacent to each set of bearings, agripper device supported by each bracket, each gripper device beingdesigned and arranged to oscillate in an arcuate path and comprising apair of complemental relatively movable fabric gripping jaws, link andlever connections actuable by the respective cams for swinging thegripper devices simultaneously in opposite directions respectively, eachgripper device comprising a pivotally mounted jaw-actuating arm, springmeans tending to move said arm toward jaw-closing position, meansoperative to prevent such closing of the gripper jaws by the springmeans until the gripper device reaches the end of its path of movementin one direction, and means operative to prevent opening of the gripperjaws as the gripper device moves in the opposite direction.

12. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate support havingbearings adjacent to its opposite ends, a cam device arranged to turn inthe bearings adjacent to each end of the support, a bracket mounted uponthe support adjacent to each end of the latter, a gripper devicesupported by each bracket, each gripper device being designed andarranged to oscillate in an arcuate path and comprising a pair ofcomplemental relatively movable fabric gripping jaws, connectionsactuable by the respective cams for swinging the gripper devicessimultaneously, each gripper device comprising a pivotally mountedjaw-actuating arm, spring means for moving said arm toward jaw-closingposition, means operative to prevent such movement of the jaw-actuatingarm by said spring means until the gripper device reaches one end of itspath of movement, and means operative to prevent closing movement of thejaw-actuating arm as the gripper device moves in the opposite direction.

13. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising a pair of spaced rotaryaxially aligned cam devices, a pair of gripper devices, each gripperdevice being designed and arranged to oscillate in an arcuate path andcomprising a pair of complemental relatively movable fabric grippingjaws, means actuable by the respective cams for swinging their gripperdevices simultaneously, each gripper device comprising a pivotallymounted jaw-actuating arm, a fixed elongate cam adjacent to each arm, acam follower device carried by the arm and arranged, as the gripperdevice oscillates, to engage opposite faces respectively of the fixedcam, and means operative, as the gripper nears opposite ends of its pathof travel, automatically to swing the jaw-actuating arm thereby to causeits cam follower to shift from one side of the fixed cam to the other.

14. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate support havingspaced bearings, a cam device arranged to turn in each set of bearings,a bracket mounted upon the support adjacent to each set of bearings, agripper device supported by each bracket, each gripper device beingdesigned and arranged to oscillate in an arcuate path and comprising apair of complemental relatively movable fabric gripping jaws, meansactuable by the respective cams for swinging their gripper devicessimultaneously in opposite directions, each gripper device comprising ajaw-actuating arm pivoted to swing in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of oscillation of the gripper device as awhole, a cam follower carried by the arm, a fixed elongate cam disposedadjacent to the arm and extending substantially parallel to the plane ofoscillation of the gripper device, a spring operative as the gripperdevice reaches one end of its path of oscillation to swing the armthereby to engage the cam follower with one face of the fixed cam, andspring means operative, as the gripper device reaches the other end ofits path of oscillation, to swing the arm thereby to engage the camfollower with the opposite face of the fixed cam.

15. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate support havingbearings adjacent to its opposite ends, a cam device arranged to turn inthe bearings adjacent to each end of the support, a bracket mounted uponthe support adjacent to each end of the latter, a gripper devicesupported by each bracket, each gripper device being designed andarranged to oscillate in an arcuate path and comprising a pair ofcomplemental relatively movable fabric gripping jaws, connectionsactuable by the respective cams for swinging the gripper devicessimultaneously in opposite directions respectively, each gripper devicecomprising a jaw-actuating arm pivoted to swing in a path substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of oscillation of the gripper device as awhole, a cam follower carried by the arm, a fixed elongate cam disposedadjacent to the arm and extending substantially parallel to the plane ofoscillation of the gripper device, resilient means operative, as thegripper device reaches the respective ends of its path of oscillation,to swing the arm thereby to open and close the gripper devicesrespectively, the cam follower and fixed cam being so designed andarranged that as the arm is swung in one or the other direction the camfollower is automatically shifted from one side to the other of thefixed elongate cam.

16. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate substantiallycylindrical casing designed to be mounted in substantially horizontalposition in proximity to: a fabric treating vat, the central portion ofth casing constituting a guide for fabric which is being drawn from thevat and which is on its way to squeeze rolls, a rotary shaft extendingaxially of the casing, a drive element disposed within the casingadjacent to each end of the latter, said drive elements being turnedsimultaneously and at the same speed by said shaft, a bracket normallyfixed to the casing adjacent to each end respectively of the latter, anoscillatory gripper device carried by each bracket, and means actuableby the respective driven elements simultaneously to oscillate thegripper devices, each gripper device comprising a pair of relativelymovable fabric gripping jaws.

17. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate substantiallycylindrical casing designed to be mounted in substantially horizontalposition in proximity to a fabric treating vat, the central portion ofthe casing constituting a guide for fabric which is being drawn from thevat and which is on its way to squeeze rolls, a rotary shaft extendingaxially of the casing, a drive element disposed within the casingadjacent to each end of the latter, said drive elements being turnedsimultaneously and at the same speed by said shaft, a pair of spacedbrackets adjustably clamped to the casing and movable toward and fromeach other to accommodate fabric of different widths between them, agripper device mounted on each bracket, each gripper device beingarranged to oscillate in a path substantially in the plane of the fabricand each gripper device comprising a pair of relatively movable fabricgripping jaws, and means operable by the respective driven elementssimultaneously to oscillate said gripper devices.

18. Fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongate substantiallycylindrical casing designed to be mounted in substantially horizontalposition in proximity to a fabric treating vat, the central portion ofthe casing constituting a guide for fabric which is being drawn from thevat and which is on its way to squeeze rolls, a rotary shaft extendingaxially of the casing, a drive element disposed within the casingadjacent to each end of the latter, said drive elements being turnedsimultaneously and at the same speed by said shaft, a pair of spacedbrackets adjustably clamped to the casing and movable toward and fromeach other to accommodate fabric of different widths between them, agripper device mounted on each bracket, each gripper device beingarranged to oscillate in a path substantially in the plane of the fabricand each gripper device comprising a pair of relatively movable fabricgripping jaws, means operable by the respective driven elementssimultaneously to oscillate said gripper devices, and means operative asthe gripper devices reach their position of nearest approach to closethe gripper jaws upon the fabric.

19. In combination with a fabric treating vat and squeeze rolls adjacentto the vat, fabric stretching apparatus comprising an elongatesubstantially cylindrical casing designed to be mounted in substantiallyhorizontal position in proximity to the vat, the central portion of thecasing constituting a guide for fabric which is being drawn from the vatand which is on its way to squeeze rolls, a rotary shaft extendingaxially of the casing, a drive element disposed within the casingadjacent to each end of the latter, said drive elements being turnedsimultaneously and at the same speed by said shaft, a pair of spacedbrackets adjustably clamped to the casing and movable toward and fromeach other to accommodate fabric of different widths between them, agripper device mounted on each bracket, each gripper device beingarranged to oscillate in a path substantially in the plane of the fabricand each gripper device comprising a pair of relatively movable fabricgripping jaws, means operable by the respective driven elementssimultaneously to oscillate said gripper devices and means operative asthe gripper devices reach their point of greatest separation to open the

